Pedestrian Accidents in NYC: Common Causes & Prevention

Posted on Jun 6, 2017 6:05pm PDT

The Vision Zero Initiative plan for New York City adopted by Mayor de Blasio
is designed to eventually bring all
pedestrian accidents and fatalities down to zero in one year. It was first approved after it
became clear that pedestrian accidents were not becoming less common on
their own, but rather were rising in frequency. What is it about New York
City that is creating such a dangerous space for pedestrians? The answer
might be in statistics that analyze common reasons why pedestrian accidents happen.

Three common causes of pedestrian accidents in NYC include:

Distraction: Driver distraction is a serious issue all around the country, not just
New York City. But in the Big Apple, where droves of people are on the
sidewalks at pretty much all hours of the day, driver distraction is all
the more likely to cause a pedestrian accident. Using smartphones, eating
or drinking on the way to work, personal grooming, and talking to passengers
are atop the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) list of
worst driver distractions. Whenever you get behind the wheel, please always
give your full and uninterrupted attention to the road.
Reminder: The National Safety Council (NSC) has concluded that hands-free wireless
smartphone devices in cars do not reduce a driver’s distraction
by any noteworthy amount.

Traffic: Sometimes you will hear someone joke that no one drives in New York City
because there is too much traffic. While this statement might be inherently
humorous, it is inexplicably true, and all the traffic contributes to
pedestrian accidents. Even when a pedestrian is fully abiding by crosswalk
signals, the heavy traffic makes it a danger for them to cross, as the
cars rounding corners can rarely see a few car lengths ahead due to all
the clogged adjacent lanes. When you cross the street, pay attention to
your surroundings and watch the lanes nearest you for approaching cars
that might not have seen you.

Roadwork: In part of the Vision Zero plan, miles of New York City roads are being
improved and altered to try to better protect pedestrians. Some of the
unfortunate irony is that all the roadwork creates an unreasonable hazard
for pedestrians in the area. Many construction sites, big and small, often
block off swaths of the sidewalk, forcing pedestrians to skirt precariously
close to lanes. If you can manage it, plan your walking route around and
away from roadwork and construction.

Need the representation of a New York City pedestrian accident lawyer after
being struck by a negligent driver? Lurie, Ilchert, MacDonnell & Ryan
LLP can be your legal advocates and trusted friends. We know that you
have the right of way as a pedestrian, and this must be respected by insurance
companies when offering settlements. Otherwise, we can fight for your
maximized compensation in court.

The information on this website is for general information purposes only.
Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual
case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt
or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.